Dual diagnosis can be a situation in which two independent disorders exist, and most often describes a co-occurring drug or alcohol use and mental health disorder. A dual diagnosis may help an individual who might possibly not have been able to be helped previously, finish drug abuse by being correctly diagnosed and helped. Their mental health disorder could have been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or treated incorrectly which may have prompted and resulted in their drug or alcohol use issues. Establishing the reality that someone is actually a dual diagnosis client not merely helps establish a highly effective treatment course for them, but may also help clients better understand what caused their drug use and the way to prevent it down the road. Handling dual diagnosis may be a more extensive process than a typical drug rehab program, and people who have a dual diagnosis might need to participate in a substantial aftercare program which can include appropriate medical support along with further rehabilitation services. Being clinically determined to have co-occurring disorders doesn't mean that the individual should be medicated for the rest of their lives either, and actually a lot of people with a dual diagnosis experience more effective outcomes when treated holistically and when alternative treatment methods are utilized.